The FBI has joined the investigation into the “brazen” theft of more than 1,000 artifacts and other items during a break-in at an Oakland museum’s off-site storage facility, authorities said Wednesday, Oct. 29.
The burglary took place shortly before 3:30 a.m. on Oct. 15 at a storage facility belonging to the Oakland Museum of California, according to the Oakland Police Department.
“The suspect(s) broke into the facility and stole more than 1,000 items from the Museum’s collection, including Native American baskets, jewelry, laptops, and other historic artifacts,” police said in a written statement.
The FBI’s Art Crime Team has joined Oakland police in the investigation, officials said.
The task force comprises roughly 20 agents spread across the nation “who are tasked with investigating all matters related to art, whether it be theft of artwork, fraud, forgery, or, in this case, antiquities and cultural property trafficking,” according to the statement.
Stolen cultural heritage
The items stolen in the crime were more than mere objects, Oakland Museum of California Executive Director and CEO Lori Gogarty said.
“The theft that occurred represents a brazen act that robs the public of our state’s cultural heritage,” she said. “Most of these objects have been given to the Museum by generous donors. We are working in close partnership with the City of Oakland, the Oakland Police Department, and the FBI to see that these objects are returned.”
The break-in preceded the theft of more than $100 million worth of royal jewels from the Louvre in Paris on Oct. 19.
Anyone with information was urged to call the Oakland Police Department Burglary Section at (510) 238-3951, or the FBI at (800) CALL-FBI.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: More than 1,000 artifacts stolen from Oakland museum’s storage facility